kinds of tobacco) than tabacco leaf cured by 
open fires. 
Air exposure of 6 to 8 weeks (sometimes ex- 
tended to 3 or 4 months) -is necessary when 
tobacco is cured by exposure to the sun and 
air. It is claimed, however, that this method of 
curing preserves far better the natural flavor 
of the leaf; and, where flavor and aroma are 
highly important, this method is always pre- 
ferred. Hence all cigar leaf tobaccos are cured 
' by exposure to natural sunlight and not by 
artificial heat. 
“Air” curing as distinct from sun curing is 
generally done in open sheds which are thor- 
oughly ventilated and kept as far as possible 
at a temperature of about 75° F. The leaf is 
usually allowed to cure while attached to the 
stalk, but Florida curers generally prefer to 
strip the leaf and treat it separately. The 
finer classes of pipe smoking tobaccos are air 
cured. | 
After the curing is completed the color of 
the leaf is usually fixed. Generally speaking, 
the riper the leaf the lighter will be its color 
when cured. Thus the bottom leaves of the 
plant will be lighter in color than the upper 
leaves because they are more mature. 
(For references see end of Chapter VIII) 
66 
